Why Ambi Safety on 1911?

I can understand why manufacturers equip their new 1911 pistols with an ambidextrous thumb safety, as they don't wish to limit their market to only right-handed or left-handed shooters. But, why would I, as a right-handed person, go to the trouble of retrofitting my 1911 with an ambi safety? ...merely for weak-hand practice? If so, I can't see where it's worth the trouble unless there is some other benefit I'm missing...:confused:

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MichaelK

June 2, 2010, 11:04 AM

What is the problem here? Is someone telling you that you have to have a left-handed safety? Of course the manufacturers are now making their guns ambidextrous. That's because there are left-handed shooters like me that want a gun with a left-handed safety. If you ae right handed and am comfortable with the safety lever on the left side of the gun, why is this an issue?

TIMC

June 2, 2010, 11:15 AM

For you it may not be a needed or desired thing to have.
For me I think it is great. I am left handed but I shoot just as well with either hand and carry left or right handed depending on mood so ambi safeties are perfect for me.

gwnorth

June 2, 2010, 11:16 AM

I think the OP is asking, why would a righty go to the expense of having an ambi-safety fitted on a gun that did not already have one.

Personally, I don't see the point either, as it just seems like a waste of money to my mind. I really dislike ambi-safeties, as the only times I've ever had a holstered 1911 get the safety inadvertently swiped off was with an ambi-safety. Both my current 1911's have standard Colt right-side only thumb safeties (I don't like extended safeties either).

maroast

June 2, 2010, 11:26 AM

Not sure why. As a left hander who trained to shoot right handed (left as well) I hate ambi safeties on 1911s. I recently picked up a kimber CDP that came stock with ambi safeties....I have every intention of removing them once I get the time in the near future.

KMO

June 2, 2010, 11:34 AM

What is the problem here?

MichaelK...Who said I had a problem? What's your problem?

BlayGlock

June 2, 2010, 12:08 PM

For the lefties among us who want to use a 1911. For me it jsut gets in the way, but they are easy and cheap to replace.

1KPerDay

June 2, 2010, 12:09 PM

KMO, easy, bro. I personally like ambi safeties as I shoot in pistol leagues that require weak-hand shooting. And if you carry, you might not be able to use your strong hand, if you're wounded, etc. But you can disengage/engage non-ambi safeties with either hand; you just move your thumb around. It's a bit fiddly, but doable. so it really comes down to what you prefer. :)

FirearmsEnthusiast

June 2, 2010, 12:22 PM

If my right thumb gets shot off before I draw my gun I can grab it with my left hand and disengage the safety :D

I think some comps require you to shoot leftie.

BCRider

June 2, 2010, 12:41 PM

Matches would require you to draw with your strong hand and then switch to your weak hand. As part of that I would expect to switch off the safety with my right hand during the transfer while the gun is pointed in a safe direction towards the targets. So a right hander still doesn't NEED an ambi safety.

I've read one account that a shooter wanted to switch back to a left side only safety because the right hand side of the ambi dug into his knuckle of his forefinger. Which makes me wonder if any lefties get the same issue with ambi or left side only safeties. If so I wonder why no one makes a right side only safety? There would still need to be a flat smooth arm on the left side to engage the index pin but without the platform in the way it would be a lot smoother on the forefinger knuckle.

Greg528iT

June 2, 2010, 01:11 PM

I have on order / reserve.. a Springer Loaded Ultra Compact. It comes with ambi safety. Once it comes, I expect to see if the ambi affects / distracts me at all. If so, a quick call to Wilson and I'll have a new non ambi safety on the way. My 1st thought was.. I'd have to trim it anyway, if I go with the crimson trace laser..

HEY SPRINGFIELD.. I'm still waiting. ;)

1KPerDay

June 2, 2010, 01:20 PM

Matches would require you to draw with your strong hand and then switch to your weak hand. As part of that I would expect to switch off the safety with my right hand during the transfer while the gun is pointed in a safe direction towards the targets. Perhaps, but fumbling around under pressure and switching hands with a loaded/cocked/safety off 1911 isn't my idea of an ideal situation. I switch the safety off after I transfer the weapon to the weak hand, and switch it back on before I transfer it back. YMMV

motorcopm4

June 2, 2010, 02:58 PM

I dont like Ambi-saf Its a weak part of the weapon

Ben86

June 2, 2010, 03:19 PM

I dislike ambi-safeties. It's just another lever to get in the way, just like ambi-mag releases. But then again I am right handed. The only benefit of ambi controls (if right handed) is if your right hand is damaged and you have to shoot with your left in a gunfight.

Quoheleth

June 2, 2010, 03:25 PM

For a lefty, it's not ambidextrous: it's strong side.

If it comes stock, consider it a manufacturer's way of giving back to three preceeding generations who could not find a stock 1911 with a left-handed thumb safety. :neener:

For a righty, I understand the frustration.
Now you get a taste of what we southpaws go through.

Q

DT Guy

June 2, 2010, 03:28 PM

I have yet to see an ambi that is as durable as a single-sider. For lefties, they are a necessary evil, but I was taught to operate the single-sider with either hand, and thing an ambi reduces the overall durability of the gun.

Larry

Ratdog68

June 2, 2010, 03:30 PM

I've used both (on the same gun). When I was carrying it as a duty weapon, I had it with the ambi safety. I had to be mindful each time the weapon went into the holster to double check that the safety didn't get moved to "fire" position. Once locked into the holster, it was never an issue. A minor inconvenience for the advantage of having the safety at hand when I'd have to deploy the weapon and hold on with weak hand aiming. Now that I'm no longer in that line of work... the ambi wasn't really needed/desired by me... so, now I have only the extended safety. My paws are big enough that I also opted to take off the extended slide release.

Ben86

June 2, 2010, 05:28 PM

You lefties just need to learn how to utilize your index fingers and leave righty dominated market alone. :D

The Lone Haranguer

June 2, 2010, 06:39 PM

Necessity for left-handers, nice but not really necessary for right-handers. However, there is no guarantee that you can always use your right hand. Provided the design is reliable (some have been known to come apart), I would rather have it and not need it than the other way around.

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